The Sea

Israel 2025 | Director: Shai Carmeli-Pollak | Arabic & Hebrew with English subtitles | 93 minutes

Drama

Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a Palestinian village, gets the chance to fulfill a dream and see the sea for the first time in his life on a school trip. But when they reach a military checkpoint, the soldiers claim that his entry permit into Israel is invalid and send him back home, while his classmates continue their trip. Deeply disappointed, Khaled sets out to reach the sea on his own – even though he doesn’t know the way and doesn’t speak any Hebrew.  When his father, Ribhi, an undocumented laborer working in Israel, learns that his son is missing, he leaves his job in search of him—risking arrest and the loss of his livelihood. A tender and poignant drama filled with human empathy, this beautifully made film follows young Khaled on his innocent and heartfelt quest to fulfill his dream. Winner of 5 Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Actor, The Sea will be the official Israeli submission to the 2026 Oscars for Best International Feature Film.

Winner: Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Music, Israeli Academy Awards 2025

Winner: Honorable Mention in Best Film category, Jerusalem Int’l FF 2025

Nominated: 13 Israeli Academy Awards 2025